May 2, 1967: 57 years ago, May 2 1967, 26 armed members of the Oakland-based Black [...]

57 years ago, May 2 1967, 26 armed members of the Oakland-based Black Panther Party for Self-Defense entered the California State Assembly Hall to protest the Mulford Act, a piece of legislation intended to disarm them. News coverage of the action made them internationally famous

The Panthers were joined in Sacramento by Mark Comfort, leader of the Oakland Direct Action Committee. Much about the Party was directly inspired by Comfort, including name “Black Panther Party,” the concept of civilian police patrols, and the wearing of black berets

17 Panthers were arrested at a gas station on the drive home (along with 2 Black men who happened to also be at the station) and charged with conspiracy. Comfort, already well-known to authorities, was the first arrested, and his wife Gloria led the effort to raise bail

In the ensuing conspiracy trial, the Panthers were represented by Beverly Axelrod, a young lawyer who had already represented Comfort during the fallout from the Ad Hocs’ 1964 civil rights protests at the Sheraton-Palace Hotel in San Francisco https://t.co/uuAqaa7o3R

The protest over, and subsequent passage of, the Mulford Act marked a turning point for the still-new BPP. Their signature tactic (armed police patrols) was made illegal, while at the same time their newfound notoriety led to an unprecedented surge in membership